Tuthill Porsche has an enviable reputation for building desirable machines. The UK-based company usually works its magic on older 911s that are prepared for race or rally duties, as well as restoration work on road cars. Now it has unveiled its most special creation to date, called the GT One. The car caused a stir online in the last few days. It was spotted being unloaded from a plane in Los Angeles. No one had any idea what it was, with some speculating it was a special edition built by Porsche.

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At the heart of this piece of artwork is of course the constant pursuit of mechanical excellence. We have taken inspiration from all that we have done in the past and have been inspired by what others have done before us and continue to do. As usual, I sincerely hope those who wish to own one of these will also wish to drive them as often as they can and create memories that will last a lifetime. The FIA GT1 class enabled manufacturers to create stunning race cars. We have taken the best bits but focused on producing a wonderful road car… I hope you can all enjoy it with us!
– Richard Tuthill.

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Race Inspired

The styling of the GT One was been heavily influenced by Porsche’s own GT1 racer. The GT1 was built to compete in the hotly contested FIA GT category of endurance racing in the 1990s. The series spawned several homologation specials, among them the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR and about two dozen examples of the Porsche. The GT One was conceived from discussions between Tuthill and a client who wished to have something truly special that he could use on the road. Tuthill has committed to limited production run of just 22 units. 

New Shape

The GT One features a completely new body that is made entirely from carbon-fibre. Particular attention was paid to the underbody aero performance to optimise performance. Additionally, the full carbon roof features an integrated air intake to feed the engine (more detail in a moment). The new bodywork also hides a roll cage. Even the doors are, unusually, full carbon fibre. As a result the GT One tips the scales at 1 200 kg. The whole ‘racetrack refugee’ look is completed with a set of tasty turbo-fan wheels.

The interior is quite a contrast to the racy exterior. The deep-set seats and other surfaces of this first production unit feature a light hue. The facia is clean and uncluttered, as is the steering wheel. There is a long gear lever ahead of which is a bank of switches. Ahead of the driver sits a digital display with colour graphics. There aren’t any touchscreen infotainment systems to distract from the task of driving.

Performance First

Most road-going 911s (save for the current-generation GT3) have MacPherson struts up front. Tuthill has reengineered the basic layout to feature double wishbone suspension at each corner. The rear set-up boasts inboard spring/damper units with pushrods. Take a look at the suspension pic (above) and you will note that the engine sits ahead of the rear axle line. Speaking of…

The engine is, naturally, a flat-six unit. It displaces 4,0-litres and owners can choose between natural aspiration or turbocharging. The former is a high-revving unit that produces about 375 kW. Turbocharging lifts that figure to about 450 kW. Tuthill will give the 22 lucky (read: wealthy) owners a choice of a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission or a manual – NICE!

The GT One will probably be incredible to drive. It weighs less than a Boxster and has similar power levels to a GT3 or a 911 Turbo (as you prefer). Additionally, the motor is mounted in the ‘right’ place and there is the option of a manual transmission. We just hope Mr Tuthill’s wish that owners drive them as often as they can and create memories that will last a lifetime, comes true.